Facilitator
Speaker: Gehan Sidky, MEPRA Strategy Board Member and Assistant Director ‑ Destination PR and Communications at Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Authority
Gehan Sidky is a senior communications professional with 17 years of experience spanning public relations, communications, destination promotion, corporate reputation, crisis communications, and global media relations, primarily within the tourism and hospitality sectors. She is currently Assistant Director, Destination PR & Communications at Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, a role she has held for over four years. In this position, she leads international PR strategy across more than 20 markets, overseeing global agency networks, international media engagement, and high-profile events and partnerships in support of the Emirate’s long-term tourism vision. Raised across five countries in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe, Gehan developed a global perspective early on and a strong ability to navigate diverse cultures, markets, and stakeholder environments. She began her career in PR and communications within the hospitality sector in France and Egypt, working with luxury hotel brands before relocating to the UAE in 2011. Since then, she has held senior roles with leading international hospitality groups including Raffles, Sofitel, and Fairmont, delivering flagship hotel openings, global campaigns, and award-winning brand initiatives across the Middle East and North Africa. Gehan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Event Management from ISCOM in Paris. Fluent in English and French, with working proficiency in Arabic, she is passionate about industry development, cross-sector collaboration, and contributing to the continued evolution of the communications profession in the region.
Hosted by: Alexandra Richards, MEPRA Youth Board Member and Associate Account Director and Head of Atelier Division at Gambit Communications
Alexandra traded the UK’s top university for agency life in Dubai at the height of COVID. Since then, she became the MENA Young Lion Champion 2024, placed top five in the world at Cannes Lions, won MEPRA’s Highly Commended Young Communicator of the Year, and picked up multiple gold awards for her client campaigns along the way. Alexandra now leads on PR for Gambit’s ever-expanding luxury and hospitality portfolio, including Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, The Leela Palaces, The Ozen Collection, Essilor Luxottica, and Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle. Her talents for strategic thinking and attention to detail also lend to major regional events such as Dubai Watch Week and Emirates Airlines Festival of Literature, with experience handling 14 active markets in addition to hosting international press trips across Monaco, Switzerland and the Maldives. An avid storyteller and writer, Alexandra has a knack for matching the right angle for the right brand to the right editor at the right publication – all whilst publishing several thought leadership pieces of her own to keep abreast of industry trends and topics.
Date & Time
12 November 2026, 4:30 – 5:30 PM GST
Location
Virtual Via Zoom Platform
Registration
Open to MEPRA Members & Non-members.